The national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg was born on May 6, 1405, into a noble family from Dibra, namely that of Gjon Kastrioti.
He was taken hostage by Sultan Murad II and served the Ottoman Empire as a general until 1443, when he abandoned the Ottoman army during a battle and returned to Kruja. In 1444, he gathered all Albanian princes in the League of Lezhe, where it was unanimously decided to fight for the liberation of Albanian territories from Ottoman rule.
As the leader of the Albanian army, following the first victory against the Ottomans at the Battle of Torvioll, Skanderbeg would go on to secure 22 major victories against the Ottoman Empire during his campaign, with Kruja serving as the center of his resistance.
The national hero became known for his relentless warfare in a strategic region between East and West. He was also recognized as an ally of the Kingdom of Naples through the Treaty of Gaeta, supporting Ferdinand I of Naples during the civil war of 1460–1461. In 1463, he was appointed commander of the crusading forces by Pope Pius II. He died on January 17, 1468, at the age of 63.
Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg is regarded by many Western European countries as the hero who prevented the Ottoman Empire from advancing into Western Europe and as a symbol of Christian resistance against the Muslim Ottomans.
